Alzheimer's Expert Christine Kennard shares Alzheimer's management news and commentary at OurAlzheimers.com. The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548 http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/102447/10-examination Wed, 03 Feb 2010 10:58:00 -0500 Christine Kennard The aim of the Mental Status Examination is to obtain a detailed profile of an individual's mental state. When coupled with their social, work and psychological history, the accumulated information allows the clinician to make an accurate diagnosis and plan the most effective treatment.   Examination of a person's mental state is a central feature of any initial assessment. It is important as it helps to rule out any specific dangers to... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/102447/10-examination http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/101352/2010-alzheimer Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:45:00 -0500 Christine Kennard How do caregivers take over the administration of estates and care for people who seem unable to look after themselves and their financial affairs? In this Sharepost I look at how Alzheimer's can affect judgement, their capacity to make decisions and their competency. It is important that caregivers help to protect the legal and human rights of someone with a progressive form of dementia like Alzheimer's at the same time as implementing any... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/101352/2010-alzheimer http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/100203/football Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:58:00 -0500 Christine Kennard Mike Webster, hero of the Pittsburgh Stealers in the 1990s died at 50. He had played for the Steelers bteween 1974 to 1989, helping win the Super Bowl four times. But even before Webster retired he had began showing signs of mental instability associated with dementia, memory loss and depression.   An autopsy following Mike Webster's death in 2002 was carried out by Barnet Omalu, a forensic pathologist, who suspected repetitive head... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/100203/football http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/99462/expression-late Fri, 01 Jan 2010 21:37:00 -0500 Christine Kennard It has been argued that much of human behavior is motivated by a group of hierarchical needs that have to be met.  Abraham Maslow, a psychologist, suggests these needs must be met in a certain sequence beginning from basic and mostly physical levels of need (the need to eat, sleep and feel safe), to higher order needs such as the need for belongingness, love and esteem.   If you cannot tell someone what you want... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/99462/expression-late http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/98530/rehabilitate Fri, 18 Dec 2009 13:59:00 -0500 Christine Kennard Because the cure for Alzheimer's disease remains elusive the best we are currently able to offer are ways to maximize the level of functioning. Keeping the brain ticking over has the effect of maintaining independence. In so doing it may have the effect of delaying hospitalization in cases where Alzheimer's becomes so advanced that it becomes impossible to support them at home.   Comparatively little is known about the ways we might exert... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/98530/rehabilitate http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/97926/caregivers Fri, 11 Dec 2009 17:14:00 -0500 Christine Kennard Finding tried and tested techniques to manage your stress levels is important for caregivers. Stress is, of course, part of life, but for caregivers acute and chronic stress  not only leads to mental and physical ill health, it also results in compassion fatigue and burnout. Here are a number of stress reducing techniques that will help you.   All these activities can be done at home, so restrictive lifestyles because of caregiving... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/97926/caregivers http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/96161/cannibalism Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:15:00 -0500 Christine Kennard A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine on research carried out by scientists at the Medical Research Council Prion Unit, shows that a strong genetic resistance to a disease called kuru (meaning trembling with fear) has occurred in a matter of decades as a direct response to it.   Kuru is an extremely rare form of dementia found in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. It is very like new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/96161/cannibalism http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/95222/antipsychotic Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:58:00 -0500 Christine Kennard Antipsychotic medications are used to control psychoses such as schizophrenia, but they can also be used to treat behavioral disturbances such as suspicion and paranoia associated with Alzheimer's disease.   Antipsychotic drugs, although not approved by the FDA for treatment of patients with dementia, are still prescribed and their use has increased substantially in the past 20 years or so. According to the Center for Medicare and... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/95222/antipsychotic http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/93140/incontinence Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:08:00 -0500 Christine Kennard Fecal incontinence affects many people who have Alzheimer's disease. It can occur at any stage of Alzheimer's disease, but is more common in middle stage and very common in late stage Alzheimer's. There are caregiving stratagies to improve and, in some cases, eliminate bowel incontinence. Here's How!   Exclude Diseases That Cause of Fecal Incontinence Remember, people with Alzheimer's can get sick too. Fecal incontinence may just be a... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/93140/incontinence http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/91652/tips-disruptive Thu, 22 Oct 2009 12:15:00 -0400 Christine Kennard If you give care to someone with Alzheimer's who also has a disruptive sleep pattern, their lack of sleep quickly becomes your lack of sleep! It is exhausting for everyone. Sleep problems are common in people with dementia and can occur at any stage of Alzheimer's disease. Here are a few issues you need to think about and a few caregiver tips you can try that may well resolve the problem of... http://www.healthcentral.com/alzheimers/c/57548/91652/tips-disruptive